The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-17
CHAPTER Xxx.

CHAPTER Xxx.
Our next job was to man the port
braces and bring the ship to a westerly
course. But before we went to this
work the boatSwain and / stood for
some minutes looking at the appear
ance of the sky.
The range of cloud, which had been
but low-lying and apparently a fugi-
tive bank in the northwest at mid
night, was now SO far advanced as to
| project nearly over our heads; and
what rendered its aspect more sinister
was the steely color of the sky, which
it ruled with line, here and there
rugged, but for the most part singu-
larly even, right from the confines of
the northeastern to the limits of the
southwestern horizon. All the central
portion of this vast surface of cloud
was of livid hue, which, by decep-
ton of he eye made it appear con-
veX; and at frequent intervals d sharp
shower of arrowy lightning whizzed
from that portion of it farthest away
from us; but as yet we could hear no
| thunder.
The approaching tempest had taken
all night to climb the horizon, but |
was not to be deceived by its slow
progress into believing there was no
wind in it. l knew from its appear
ance that it would bring with it II tre-
mendOus gale and that there would be
nothing to do but to run before i.
This would bring us well into the mid
| Atlantic and | wished we were more to
Il Al. 4
ever, all we could do was to make the
| ship as snug as possible. sent the
| bOatswain below to look at those plugs
be put in the holes bored by the carpen-
| ter.
Having braced up the yards and
steadied the helm, we could do no
more; and. resolving to profit as much
as possible from the interval of rest be-
fore us, directed Cornish to take tho
wheel, and ordered the steward to 90
forward and light the galley fire and
| boil some coffee for breakfast.
then told Miss Robertson that there
was nothing now to detain her on deck,
and thanked her for the great services
| she had rendered us.
How well | remembered her as she
stood near the wheel. wearingmy straw
hat, her dress hitched up to allow free
dom to her movements; her small
hands with the delicate blue veins
glowing through the white. clear skin,
her yellow hair loopcd up, though with
many 4 tress straying like an amber
colored feather; her marble face, her
lips pale with fatigue, her beautiful
blue eyes fired ever with the same
brave spirit. though dim with the
wearineSs of long and painful watch
ing, and the oppressive and numbing
sense of ever-present danger!
On no persuasion would l allow her
to remain longer on deck and although
she begged to stay | took her hand
firmly and led her to her cabin door
She promised to lie down and try to
sleep l kissed her hand and held open
the cabin door for her to enter, and
then returned on deck.
A most extraordinary sight salatcd
me when reached the poop.
The sun had risen behind the vast
embankment of cloud, and its glorious
rays, the orb itself being invisible, pro-
jected in a thousand lines OF silver be-
yOnd the margin of the bank - the
right and overhead. jutting out in visi-
BILE threads. each as defined rs !, sun
beam in dark room.
Looking far away on the weather.
beam. and where the shadow on tho
sea was deepest. / faneied that / dis
cerned a black object, which might well
be s. ship with her sails darkened by her
distance from the sun.
pointed it out to Cornish, who S-v
it too, and l then fetched the tee
scope.
Judge of my surprise and eonsterna
her sail low down on the mast entered
the field of the glass; | cried out: ''It'
the long -boatr'
Cornish turned hastily.
..My God!'' he cried, .'thev'r re doomed
men!''
Igazed at her inten.lv, but could not
be deceived. for L recognized the cut of
the stun sail, lowered as it was in an
tieipation of the breaking of the storm,
and l could also make out the minute
dark figures of the men in her.
The boatswain came along ana re-
ported every thing safe below. Come
here" cried, ''there is the long-boat
yonder." He caught the glass and took
long look through it.
at is the boat. sure enough. She IS
heading this way and we may have to
make another fight for it.
mo, no." 1 answered. They're
not for fighting. They don't Ike the
look of the weather. bosom. and would
board us to save their lives, not to take